B1 – Intermediate
The theater has always been a great source of entertainment, amusing people for centuries. Originally began to tell stories to those who cannot read and write; the curtains opened up to showcase more than just a story. It also conveyed feelings, and information that can greatly influence the minds of its viewers.
http://www.english-online.at/history/elizabethan-theatre/shakespeares-theatre.htm
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever seen a play before?
2. Describe the theater in the time of Shakespeare. How is it different from the theater today?
3. How did the government receive the theater in Shakespeare’s time?
4. Describe the lives of actors in the time of Shakespeare.
5. How can the theater influence its audience?
14 replies on “Theater in the Age of Shakespeare”
1. Have you ever seen a play before?
2. Describe the theater in the time of Shakespeare. How is it different from the theater today?
The theatre in the time of Shakespeare was much different than the theatre is today. They were open arenas or playhouses, the audience didn’t sit all the time except richer people and noblemen who sat in the galleryand. The audience were not quiet during the performance and they cheered, booed and sometimes even threw objects at the actors.
3. How did the government receive the theater in Shakespeare’s time?
The authorities didn’t like it and didn’t allow acting in the city itself. They thought it had a bad influence on people and kept them from going to church.
4. Describe the lives of actors in the time of Shakespeare.
There was no stage crew as there is today. Actors had to do everything themselves – from making costumes to setting the stage. They performed about 6 different plays each week because they needed money to survive. They had almost no time for rehearsals. Women never performed in plays, so young boys played female characters. The performances took place in the afternoon because it was too dark at night.
5. How can the theater influence its audience?
They thought it had a bad influence on people.
Great job doing this exercise to practice your writing.
Here is how this sentence can be revised:
Keep going with this to improve further.
1. Have you ever seen a play before?
Yes, I prefer the play to the cinema. I consider in the theather the actors are more reals and his play is more direct and real.
2. Describe the theater in the time of Shakespeare. How is it different from the theater today?
Now the theater is more sophisticated, there are specialists for each function: lights, makeup, music, special effects,…
Likewise, the spectators are more respectful with the actors.
3. How did the government receive the theater in Shakespeare’s time?
Ambivalent, on the one hand the authorities did not like it and did not allow it to act in the city itself. They thought it had a bad influence on people and prevented them from going to church. On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth loved acting and helped make the theater popular.
4. Describe the lives of actors in the time of Shakespeare.
In Shakespeare’s day, actors had to do everything from making costumes to setting the stage.
5. How can the theater influence its audience?
I believe that the theater can influence its audience by improving the interaction with the spectators, using new techniques such as special effects, making the spectator participate directly in the work,…
You provided good responses to your lesson’s discussion questions.
Take a look at a way to revise this one:
Until your next entries!
1 .-Yes, when i was young , i watched one with the school.
2.- The place, today the theatre are covered places and all the clients have their own site. there are women to make the performan. The theatres are usually in the center of the city. The actors companies have crew teams to assist them.
3 .- Bad , becouse kept people from going to church.
4.-they made all by themselves, they didnt have almost time to rehearsals and performed six different plays each week.
5.-In Shakespeare’s time, was a good influence cause some people didnt know read or write and was a good kind of entertainment
Good to see you are continuing with your writing practice.
Here is a sentence you can still improve a bit and also take note of the correct spelling of “performance” and “because”. But generally, also work a little more on your capitalization and punctuations.
You can do it. Just maintain your consistency in your practice.
1.Yes, I love the theater, I have seen great productions like the lion king, grease, beauty and the beast…
2.I think it was a more cultured theater, more care in literature
3. not so good
4. They did everything, it was a difficult time
5. I believe positively. people barely knew how to read or write
Appreciate your efforts in expressing your ideas more. Keep it up.
See how you can revise this sentence through proper punctuations and capitalization:
With more practice, you will improve your skills for sure.
1. Yes , many year Ago , at Apollo Victoria , London
2. Mainly the Theatre Lights , The scenario , the Actors skills…
3. with distrust.
4. they did everything , sew, acting..
5. good influence, entertaining the public
You are doing your best in trying to respond to all your lessons’ discussion questions. Try to be expressive and elaborate in your answers as much as you can.
See how you can improve this one:
Be mindful with your use of the comma (,).
Keep practicing to get better and better at writing!
1. Yeah. Many times. I love the theater
2. I think that today the commercial is sought more than the artistic quality
3. I don’t know
4. I don’t know
5.I think in a positive way. culture is essential
We do appreciate your efforts in practicing your writing. However, try not to answer I don’t know because sometimes, the answers to the discussion questions can be found in the material. Be expressive and also resourceful so your responses can be more sound.
Here is how you can better express this response of yours:
Stay consistent with your practice.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever seen a play before?
Yes I saw some plays, even when I was a Kid. Here in Madrid fortunately we have a lot of Theatres and a lot of plays on stage, and there are prices for almost everybody.
2. Describe the theater in the time of Shakespeare. How is it different from the theater today?
According to the article , there are a lot of differences, for instance, at that time women can’t act in plays(kids did their roles), most of the theatres were out of the cities, actors did almost everything, and so forth…
3. How did the government receive the theatre in Shakespeare’s time?
Not very warm, on the contrary they thought plays could be revolutionaries, or be a bad influence for the people, this is the reason why at that time all the theatres were outskirts the cities.
4. Describe the lives of actors in the time of Shakespeare.
At that time was a very difficult job, they have to do almost everything (not crew or any kind of support), a lot of plays, even different in the same week, and not was well paid.
5. How can the theatre influence its audience?
Nowadays it’s more difficult (we have everything and accessible with one click to all the information), but at that time, if the plot was good as well as the actors, the can influence the public; regarding to the article maybe was the only way to give a message to the masses (most of then rarely were able to read)… And some plays at that time were really revolutionaries (p.e.: The wedding of Figaro) because they treat about social problems, slavery, etc).
It’s great that you are continuing your writing practice. Strive to stay consistent.
Here is how you can improve this sentence better:
Cheers to more entries from you.